Monday, May 23, 2011

UPDATE: For those of you who may like these toppers but not want to make them yourself, I'm now selling them on Etsy!

I hope you guys liked these pom-pom cupcake toppers from my rum and raspberry custard cupcakes because they're not only fun and festive but easy to make! So fun and easy, in fact, that I'm debuting my first ever tutorial post today to show you how to make these with just a few simple tools and supplies, all readily available at your local crafts store. Potter & Butler deserves full credit for inspiring these toppers, but I must admit I'm pretty proud of myself for figuring out how to recreate them! Especially 'cause the premade ones are more than I can afford, poor student that I be =p. Plus, making my own let's me make them in any color, and I'm even gonna try combining several colors in the same topper!

Though I'm about to reveal just how truly simple these are to make for yourself, I'm also giving away a dozen pom-pom cupcake toppers to one lucky reader (free shipping to US or Canadian mailboxes only; others can enter if willing to pay for shipping). To enter, simply do as many of the following as you want and leave a separate comment for each thing you do! Don't forget to include a way for me to contact you if you win! The giveaway will close on June 1 at midnight, and the winner will be announced shortly thereafter. Good luck!THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED. THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED!

Leave a comment telling me what type of cupcakes or what occasion you'd use these toppers for AND what color you'd like!

XIAOLU'S NOTES: Some types of tissue paper are too thick or waxy, and do not work well with a craft punch. You can still make these toppers with that type of tissue paper. But you will need to cut a 2-inch circle out of thicker paper (such as card stock), trace circle outlines onto that tissue paper, then cut out tissue paper circles manually along those outlines. This will definitely take longer than using the craft punch, but you can speed things up by cutting between 8 and 16 layers of tissue paper at a time.

Fold or layer tissue paper so that it is between 8 and 16 layers thick and punch out 2-inch circles using the craft punch.You'll need 30 circles per pom-pom topper.Because it's so thin, the tissue paper easily gets stuck in the punch. After 30 minutes of frustration, I finally figured out the trick: (1) insert the paper into the punch and presh down just far enough that you can no longer shift the paper around freely; (2) continue holding the punch down partially as you use your other hand to pull the tissue paper in the other direction as if you're trying to remove it from the punch (this pulls the paper taut so the punch cuts the tissue paper instead of pulling it inside); (3) continue pulling the paper as you push the punch firmly down all the way and cut out your circles.

Double-thread your needle, double-knot the end, and sew through the center of a stack of 30 tissue paper circles.

Double-knot the thread on the opposite side as close to the tissue paper as possible and cut the remaining thread close to the knot.

Use scissors to cut 8 evenly spaced "spokes" into the circles, stopping 1/4 inch from the center.

Attach the circles to a 4 to 5-inch paper or wood stick using double-sided tape. First cover 1 inch of the tip of the stick with double-sided tape, then carefully insert the stick about halfway between the layers of circles and toward the center point of the circle. Do not insert the end of the stick beyond the center point or it will be hard to fluff the topper later. Once you've inserted the stick, press the tissue paper on both sides along the tip of the stick to ensure it adheres well.

Use your fingers to separate and bend the tissue layers and cut sections until about half the layers have been fluffed out. Now turn the topper over and fluff out the rest of the layers from the other direction until it looks like a pom-pom. You want to be gentle since it's tissue paper, but you will also want to press near the base repeatedly as you fluff in order to crease the paper so that the sections don't fall flat again.Now you can instantly make any cupcake more festive with your new topper =D!

UPDATE: I've filmed a video demonstrating how to fluff up these toppers -- you can watch it HERE on my Youtube channel!

i like.. like the cupcakes and the pom-pom...i guess i would love to have them in any color and wid summer approaching i would love to use them on cupcakes for a pool/beach party...would love to see their feathers flutter in the wind:)i can see it's a lot of hard work to get the right pom pom...kudos & cheers to u!!!thanks..

Oh, these are super cute and I even shared it on Facebook before realizing there was a giveaway! Cannot wait to make some for my kiddo's end of the school year picnic on Friday. Thanks for sharing!~artgirl68@yahoo.com

These are so sweet! That would be perfect for my sunshiny baby shower in June! In fact, if my sister hadn't forbidden me from sending her anymore ideas, I would send her this right now (I still might).

I couldn't resist, I just shared this with my sis (all passive-aggressively) via Facebook. And while "liking" 6bittersweets on Facebook, I realized your located in my area! (NOVA) Your pictures make me hungry.

I had bought the ceiling poms for a party from Martha Stewart, and I love them but I'm glad you included the DIY.. spending $20 on toppers that will be thrown away is pricey... DIY makes them much more affordable neh?

Let's see...I think these would make a great mini mousse cake topper, so that's what I'd use it on. OK, my RSS feed thingy doesn't work on my laptop (need a new puter asap), so I'll tweet and twitter :)

this is soooooooo cool! I love it! and i know this has nothing to do with the post whatsoever, but I really like your ring! is that a giveaway too? ;-) and how do you take a photo of your own hands doing something? wow - teach me how to clone one of my limbs!

When I saw the cupcakes post, I really did think those toppers looked really cute! You are really very creative and have tons of patience :) I doubt I would be able to sit down and do that! :) Thanks for sharing :)

These are so cute and look gorgeous on your cupcakes! My son (turning 3) and my brother (turning 30) are celebrating their birthdays on June 10 (we're going to be in my hometown in NoVa for the occasion and throwing a joint b-day bash). I'd love to use these for the cupcakes I'm making for them. Would probably like the pom poms in a light blue (even though my son claims pink is his favorite color -- I don't think my brother would appreciate that). :)

'd love to use these pom poms for my daughter's 4th birthday! They'd be cutest in pink or purple of course :)I have a eggless cake recipe I have to use because of allergies and its made with orange juice, and its quite tasty!

It's difficult deciding on a favorite color. I love the yellow, but for a Springy color combination: minty green topper on top of strawberry or orange cupcakes for good times with friends (if it's a celebration, then strawberry daiquiri or Mimosa cupcakes).

Hi Hannah, thanks for trying these out and I'm sorry they're not fluffing out like the photos. I actually included a pretty detailed decription of the process. Can you possibly give me more detail of how it's not working out for you (even a photo of what yours currently looks like)? That would help me give you additional directions. Thanks!